Terminal Prayer Room

I flew to the Netherlands this summer to marry a couple at the Hague who once worshipped at Salem Chapel. I don’t mind flying but I dislike airports (see Manchester Terminal). Perennially afraid of being late, I get there rather early, and duly arrived at Security 20 minutes too soon to be let through (!). As there was nowhere to wait, I espied a chaplaincy room and went through and sat myself down. A group of chaplains were in the next room, talking and cackling loudly, so it was a good job I had not entered to pray or meditate. Although I was grateful for the comfortable seat and relatively quiet space, it struck me as an odd place of worship.

It was pleasantly decorated and tidily furnished; someone had invested some thought into the colour scheme. There was something not quite right, however. Perhaps it was the lack of natural lighting, or the anodyne symbolism which spoke of ‘all faiths and none’. This is the problem with spaces for multi-faith worship; each religion’s symbols and objects are likely to offend the others, so none are employed. The place was therefore characterised by blandness. Supposed ‘spirituality’ is embodied here. There was an awareness of the fourth dimension, but it was very much the Altar to the Unknown God. ‘Spiritual’ people who neglect Jesus are therefore no better than those who worship other gods or are plain materialists; theirs are the beautifully decorated rooms and empty altars, the insipid narratives, the philosophies of self-improvement.

Jesus Christ is the one we need. Jesus Christ is the One we most ignore.